Abstract

Purpose: Cytochrome P450 (CYP2A6) is known as an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines to their ultimate carcinogenic forms and metabolism of nicotine. We here report that the genetic polymorphisms of human CYP2A6*4 is associated with primary lung cancer and their overall survival.

Experimental Design: We prepared genomic DNA samples from 387 Japanese patients with primary lung cancer and the genetic polymorphisms of human CYP2A6*4 (whole gene deletion) by the rapid genetic testing method we developed in this study. We analyzed the association between the CYP2A6*4 gene, NRF2 gene and overall survival.

Conclusion: CYP2A6*4/*4 whole gene is considered to be a prognostic biomarker for assessing both the gender-related risk of lung adenocarcinoma in the smoking sub-population and their overall survival.